Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It is a Schedule II prescription drug, and it is typically used to treat patients with severe pain or to manage pain after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids. In its prescription form, fentanyl is known by such names as Actiq®, Duragesic®, and Sublimaze®. Read the Fentanyl DrugFacts.
Common Names
Apache, Dance Fever, Friend, Goodfellas, Jackpot, Murder 8, and Tango & Cash
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Related Resources
- National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) Hot Spot Reports
- Message From the Director: Fentanyl Use in Combination With Street Drugs Leading to Death in Some Cases (Archives, June 2006)
- Message From the Director: Increased Abuse of Prescription Drugs is Cause for Concern (Archives, March 2004)
- NIH Director’s Blog on Fentanyl
- Deaths Involving Fentanyl, Fentanyl Analogs, and U-47700 - 10 States, July–December 2016 (MMWR) (CDC, November 2017)
- Fentanyl Safety Recommendations for First Responders (PDF, 934KB) (White House)
Other Resources
- MEDLINEplus Health Information on Drug Abuse (National Library of Medicine, NIH)
- Healthfinder.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies in human volunteers conducted to answer specific health questions. Learn about the NIH-sponsored clinical trials available to you.
- NIDA Clinical Trial Locator - answer a few simple questions and get contact information for Clinical Trials near you.